Stupid questions

1. gaffer - electrician or head of electrical. he's the guy who stops you from blowing the fuses. he also fixes them when you somehow manage to plug in one thing too many in the place you were specifically told not to plug it in.

2. dp or cinematographer - depends on who you're talking to. same thing.

3. take off the silly hat.
 
2. Traditionally a cinematographer was Director of Photography who also operated the camera, but I think there are hundreds of definitions for each now.
 
Hmm, and here I thought DP was the camera person by default. Reason number 67 I am not allowed on any sets.

ALEX
You there! Gaffer! How 'bout some coffee!

EXT. SET - ABOUT TIME

Gaffer kicks open the door and tosses Alex out on his keester. The door slams shut.

Alex puts on his silly hat and walks off into the sunset, now realizing gaffer and gopher sound too much alike.
 
To add to gaffer, works under the Director of Photography and (apart from merely electrical side of lighting) sets lights and sometimes does the lighting design.
 
alex whitmer said:
Hmm, and here I thought DP was the camera person by default. Reason number 67 I am not allowed on any sets.

ALEX
You there! Gaffer! How 'bout some coffee!

EXT. SET - ABOUT TIME

Gaffer kicks open the door and tosses Alex out on his keester. The door slams shut.

Alex puts on his silly hat and walks off into the sunset, now realizing gaffer and gopher sound too much alike.
Click to expand...


Reminds me of the beginning of Adaptation. "You, you're in the eyeline. Would you get off the stage?"
 
I've read the gaffer is the head of the electrical department. But I usually associate the gaffer with lighting. I guess in smaller productions he is in charge of lighting. And cinematographer and DP are basically interchangeable but I have heard before that it depends people will use one or the other in different Countries.
 
That depends on set, and it's size. On a large, pro set, Noel is most correct I believe. A gaffer working under the DP dealing with lights, scrims, silks, etc. Grips, the head of which is the Key Grip, lugs all that stuff around. Keeping everyone from being electrocuted is often the job of the Best Boy, and whatever electricians are on set. The history of the term Best Boy is pretty cool, look it up.

Camera crew often has a DP, camera op, and a few camera assists. Sometimes the DP operates the camera, plenty times not.

Again, all this depends on the set. For example, some very skilled shooters on this site may DP a short film on an HVX that looks great and be (properly) titled "cinematographer" in the credits, but their working job may "only" be as a camera assist logging shots, cleaning lenses, pushing dollies, on large sets.

IMDB has a pretty good lexicon of industry terms. Here's the link.
 
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Alex, while I'm by no means on the level of say...Uwe Boll...let me expound upon your enquisitions:

1. A gaffer...that would be any person who spends all day sky-larking or dicking off. (i.e. Look at that loser just gaffing off over there.) His role on the set is normally one of annoyance or pure entertainment. Hence, gaffer tape.

2. From my experience in adult films, the difference between a DP and a cinematographer is that a DP involves two men, while the cinematographer is normally just one guy.

3. ANSWER

As always, glad to be of help. Live the dream!

Rod as in Rod
 
Glad we could help. Lots of good people here. And there are no stupid questions. At one point no one on here knew anything we're sharing.
 
ok so maybe this question will get answered here....

What happens if you take No-Doze and wash it down with Nyquil?

its been bugging me for along time...anyone?

Rogan
 
Couldn't resist
pepper.jpg
 
Learning the lingo beyond the writer's hermitical existence ...


1. What's a gaffer? "electrician or head of electrical. he's the guy who stops you from blowing the fuses. he also fixes them when you somehow manage to plug in one thing too many in the place you were specifically told not to plug it in."

That's pretty much it. The gaffer is the DP's right-hand man that should know just about everything about lighting, rigging, camera platforms both mobile and static, as well as vast knowledge of electrical engineering. The gaffer takes over the crew of lighting techs and grips while the DP tends to business with the director, production designer, etc.

2. What's the difference between a DP and a cinematographer?
Believe it or not, these two terms are synonymous. Some may say there's a difference, but it has nothing to do with whether or not the DP operates the camera or not. Some directors operate their cameras half of the time, but they're not called cinematographers. Two terms for the same occupation.

3. Why are those people laughing at me?
Because they're intimidated by you. :)


a

www.alexwhitmer.wordpress.com
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